10 Days to Forever

Part 13

Day 8 (Sunday)

Chimon woke up that morning to the smell of fried rice and sausages. He quickly ran down the stairs and straight to the kitchen.

He was startled when he saw Pluem preparing food on the table.

"Good morning!" Pluem said brightly, as if nothing happened the past few days.

"What are you doing here so early? You should go get some sleep," Chimon replied.

"It's fine. It's already 9am. I got here around 8am and met Lola Rosa. She was heading to the church. She said you were still asleep and said I should have breakfast here so.."

Chimon checked the wall clock and it indeed was already past 9am.

"Oh no, I'll miss church service today," he said.

"Looks like it."

"Even so, you should still be sleeping."

"I had enough sleep last night."

"But you had to drive all the way here."

"I thought so too. But my mother drove my car for me."

"Your mother is here?"

"Well yes she's in Baguio but no, she's not in our house. She's staying at Baguio Country Club. She's probably still sleeping right now. We arrived here around 3:30am."

"Oh, why did she come all the way here?"

"She said she wants to spend the day with me today. I don't know why. She must be shocked or worried or I don't know. Frankly, I thought it was nice of her to exert some effort to be with me today. We never really spent time alone together. It's very awkward, I slept throughout the trip to avoid talking to her."

"If she drove your car, how will she go back to Manila?"

"One of her drivers will come get her tonight."

"Oh," Chimon ran out of things to say.

"Come on let's eat. But I won't eat too much though if I were you."

"Why?"

"We will have lunch with my mom at her hotel around 12 noon."

"What? Why?" Chimon was suddenly nervous.

"What about it? We're just gonna eat. You don't even have to talk to her."

"Does she know I'll be coming?"

"Err. No. It doesn't matter though. I don't want to eat lunch alone with her. It's too awkward. The drive up here was long enough. I'm not comfortable around her."

"So you're bringing me for distraction?"

Pluem held Chimon's hand.

"Please, Chi. I just lost my dad and now I have to face my mother like this. I need you to be with me."

"Why do you need anyone? It's just your mom."

Pluem shook his head. "You'll understand later. For now, let's eat."

---

Upon seeing Pluem's mother, Chimon had chills down his spine. She was the total opposite of Mr. Tawan. While Mr. Tawan was warm and friendly, Ms. Alonzo looked like one of those rich and arrogant rich women in Korean dramas.

"Oh hi Pluem," Ms. Alonzo greeted Pluem with a peck on the cheek.

"Hi mom, this is Chimon, one of my friends here," Pluem said while taking a seat.

"Hello ma'am," Chimon bowed a little while greeting Pluem's mother. He didn't usually bow down when greeting people. He just felt like he needed to in front of Ms. Alonzo.